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Eradicate Leprosy & it's Taboo

Become a Cure Being One Regular Giving Supporter

BGC Foundation’s Humanitarian Aid Project provides financial and medical resources to needy families in East Imphal, Manipur. Beginning in 2019, BGC Foundation responded to it’s local help in Manipur by distributing clothes and food. In the last two years, our aid focus has shifted to dire need for food and healthcare. We distribute food to those who need it and provide financial help to cover medical bills of the people who are suffering with the disease – Leprosy.



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What Causes Leprosy?



Leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease) is caused by bacteria which attack nerves in the extremities of the body like your hands, feet and face leaving them numb. If left untreated, leprosy can affect the peripheral nerves and cause the fingers and toes to claw inwards. The disease can also attack the eyes, resulting in infections, cataracts, and even preventable blindness.

 

Ulcers and infections in the hands and feet are common because bruises, cuts, and burns are ignored when the skin loses sensitivity. Untreated infections can become so severe that disfigurement and amputations may result. People living in poor communities are much more vulnerable to leprosy. Dirty water, lack of sanitation, poor nutrition, and lower standards of living mean people’s immune systems are simply not strong enough to fight the disease.

 

There is a cure and disability can be completely avoided if leprosy is diagnosed and treated early enough. A combination of drugs, known as multi-drug therapy (or MDT), kills the bacteria and the cure success rate is approximately 99%.



Consequences



There are various stigmas towards leprosy-affected individuals and their families still exists. It stems from superstitions, religious beliefs, attitudes to physical disfigurement and discriminatory laws and practices.

 

Many people still believe that leprosy is caused by immoral behavior and is a curse from the gods. Others believe that it cannot be cured, is highly contagious and is spread through touch. One of the most harmful aspects of stigma is that people are too ashamed to admit they have the disease. This delays diagnosis and treatment, making the outcome far more serious than it needs to be.

 

The psychological impacts can be equally as devastating. Leprosy-affected individuals and families are often rejected by their loved ones, excluded from their communities, and forced to live in shame and isolation. Families affected by leprosy find it extremely difficult to lift themselves out of poverty. Long stays in hospitals, disability, exclusion, discrimination, lack of access to education and unemployment exacerbate their already desperate situation.

 

With this project, BGC Foundation is helping to transform the lives of leprosy-affected people as well as work towards eradicating the causes of the disease.



Detection and Diagnosis

Early detection and diagnosis of leprosy is vital to our mission, because if treatment with multi-drug therapy is started early enough, long-term disability can be completely avoided.

 

A vital part of these programs is the training of community volunteers who take responsibility for identifying new cases in their villages. We also educate the local health workers, rural medical practitioners and family planning staff about leprosy so they can identify cases and refer people for treatment as quickly as possible.

 

To be effective we must reach as many leprosy-affected people as we can as quickly as possible. That is why we also work with government medical support to ensure that leprosy detection, diagnosis and treatment are given priority within the public health system.



Your contribution of any amount (Big / small) will also help us to extend these unemployed patients them financial support.



WHAT YOUR DONATION CAN DO.

INR 1500 can fund a month’s medicine for one patient. INR 24000 can fund a cost of a year of professional care like reconstructive surgery, physiotherapy of one patient.